Bailey, you're great!

Your great heart is the core of a great life that blesses us so much. God has given you super capacity to achieve and to care and you are using it well. Thanks for your pattern of good choices that make me pleased and proud to be in your circle of activities and influence.

One concern I have...are your shoulders broad enough and your back strong enough to handle all this praise and the implied expectation that you will continue to amaze and inspire us?

I love you very much.

Grandpa

Bailey

Hey all,
18 years ago today the world forever brightened for me. She caused some trouble getting here so I thought she might turn out a little stubborn. I had no way of knowing how much favor God was showing me that day. It hadn't been very long since I had been a kid and I remember wondering about her future.

I had some modest dreams that day.

They told me that all fathers think their daughters are pretty. I was hoping for moderately cute. God gave me stunning, catch-my-breath beauty.

I didn't hope for genius, but I asked for some intelligence. God gave me a brilliant, clever, sharp, witty girl with deep understanding.

Given her genes I knew better than to expect athletic stardom, but I did hope for her to share that part of my life. God gave me a hard-working competitor that has made me so proud in so many arenas.

I had only one exceptional wish. I asked for her heart to be great. I wanted her to be kind and good. I wanted her to stand out in a crowd as a lover of people and a follower of Jesus. I was dreaming for someing way beyond average. God so far exceeded my expectations. I cannot describe what happens in my heart when I think of the lives she touches and the leadership she provides everywhere I turn.

I love to watch her with her brothers and with little kids and with people who really need love. I love to watch TV with her and talk about nothing. I love the way she gets a joke and can give it back with clever grace. I love when she does cheers in the living room becasue she thinks nobody is watching. I love it when she laughs. I love it even more when I can make her laugh and light up the room with her smile.

Already the prospect of not having her around has started to dim the brightness of my world. But I am happy for the world that gets a girl like her. Greater men than I will never know the privilege of being a father to someone so terrific. Whatever else I do or don't do with my life, no one can take from me this: I am Bailey Brown's Daddy.

I love you Bailey!

Love,
Dad

Happy Birthday Bailey

Happy Birthday Bailey! You have really grown up to be a beautiful young lady. I'm so proud to call you my neice. Lena is blessed to have such a wonderful big cousin. Hope you have a wonderful day.

April

question

Does anyone know what's up with the blog changes? I changed my account to a google account because it said I had to - no problems there. But now when I go to "hello", I can't send pictures. Help! I've got some really cute pics of snow day in Como!

Thanks,
Anda

Austin news

I just thought I would blog since not too many have the last few days. Lena is really into purses these days. She also likes to roam the house and see what she can get in to. Her favorites are taking all the shoes out of her closet, pulling all the tupperware out in the kitchen, and getting into the box with all my magazines. She's having a lot of fun exploring.

I just started teaching two weeks ago at Tues./Thurs. Preschool at church. I'm enjoying being able to get out of the house two days a week and spending time with a bunch of 3 year olds. Lena is doing well in her class. She brought home her first artwork last week. I'm not going to teach forever. Just untill we have our second child.

It's snowing here in Austin. Not much, but enough to say it snowed. Everything seems to be shut down. I didn't have to go to work today, and they shut down UT. So James and I get what seems like a really long weekend, since he had yesterday off for MLK. We haven't taken Lena out in the snow yet, but we will. Hope everyone else is staying warm in this cold Texas weather. Cary and Jill, enjoy all that warm sunshine for the rest of us.

April

Little Mamma in the making. Can you
tell she likes purses?

Lena thought she would "help" James in
the fridge.

Lena dressed up as princess at her friend,
Isabella's birthday party.

Bon Voyage, Mimi and Papa!

It's a lovely cruise - I've got my kids, husband, sunny weather, great food, fun activities, my sister and her family, but just one thing missing....Mimi and Papa. My parents missed the boat.

I'm probably still in shock about it, so I'll say it again....MY PARENTS MISSED THE BOAT!!

Due to Southwest Airlines "mechanical problems," my parents missed the Disney bon voyage party on Deck #9. To further complicate things, there is some kind of International Law that prohibits anyone from boarding a cruise boat docked in Key West, FL (could someone work on this crazy law in their spare time? Alan? Anyone?). Disney "people" have transported them and 16 other passengers that missed the boat to Grand Cayman and they will board the boat tomorrow morning.

I got an email from my dad and they are having a glorious "second honeymoon" in Grand Cayman and wondering how they could have planned it any better.

My parents were actually very close to making the boat - they were boarded on a Disney Bus and could actually see the ship as it was pulling away. Meanwhile, my kids and my nephews were looking back at the dock, waving, "Goodbye, Mimi and Papa!" Within a few minutes all of the kids were distracted and having a great time. I, on the other hand, was too devestated to speak! I was in shock about it for the first day until I heard what a great time my parents were having - they were "living it up!"

So I got over it - moved on - and have really enjoyed the cruise. We had a great day in Key West yesterday. We rented a little six-seater electric car (big no-no for CEO oil man), and hung out at the beach - had Key Lime pie and a few limeades.

So my parents missing the boat would qualify as one of those hillarious disasters. I was stuck between wanting to cry about it, or then....should I laugh? I kind of felt like doing both at the same time! Does anyone know this weird feeling?

I'll try to blog later in the week to finish out the saga and see if my parents can make the boat this next time, or if they mysteriously disappear to St. Barts.

I'm Alive!

I'm alive in Uganda and am having a great time! I'm missing my family something fierce but have seen so much already. Faith Quest youth camp was phenominal. I wish you could see these kids dance as they sing--just so spirited! I got to do most of the sessions as speaker & worship leader--it couldn't have gone better! Worshiping with the Fort Portal Church of Christ today was a real treat too! I got to preach and enjoy the team that worked so hard to make Faith Quest happen!

Ok, bandwith is a real issue, so I'm not sure what picture will be best--it seems I can't get any uploaded tonight:-(.

Tomorrow, Jeff is taking me to a safari park --and we hope to see some hippo's & lions in the wild! I'm praying that my stomach will settle down--I am definately feeling Uganda right now!!

I love you and am having a great time with Jeff, Cheryl & kids! bw

This is Crazy.

Just another day of work for Cary on the Gulf Stream.

The team decided that I was their official "groupie." 

Cary and Kyle enjoying "not-your-typical" airplane food. 

Cary's last meeting ended in an office building overlooking Santa Monica beach. 

 

We got to stay at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel (the "Pretty Woman" hotel) which Rodeo Drive dead ends into- Cary was glad I only had a few hours there instead of a few days. I, however, took my limited time constraints as a personal challenge. 

 

Here's a roadshow update....

Cary and I got here Monday night, just planning on enjoying some time together in New York before all the chaos hit. After our plane landed, Cary's blackberry started buzzing and we quickly realized that the chaos was just beginning.

After some dinner, we decided to walk it off so we could justify some cheesecake at Stage Deli. When we got there, strawberry shortcake looked the best to us, and when we ordered, our waitress commented, "that's enough to feed four people." Why do people tell you things like this?

By then, we had gotten some concerning emails and Cary started one of his favorite games he likes to play called "Worst Case Scenario." He started off with the question, "What's the worst thing that could possibly happen?" Ten minutes later, he finished the game by saying, "I can't believe I ate that whole thing."

The next morning, Cary seriously felt like throwing up - partly from the shortcake, mainly from nerves. After some ups and downs and a few crazy turns, Cary text messaged me today, "we've launched!" Everyone at dinner tonight bragged about his video presentation that he did late this afternoon, and said that he was quite a "gamer" - pressure was on, and he did great.

The team has a full schedule of meetings tomorrow, and then we fly to LA that night for meetings on Friday. I know Cary is feeling SO much better to be at this point, and is really proud of the team and all the hard work they have done.

Keep praying for them!
Thanks, family - we love you!

 

A Great Day in Central Park

 

Here We Come, NASDAQ

 

Steve, Kyle, Cary & Jill in front of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree